Not pregnant.

It was evening when Dr. White called me.
Unfortunately, it was Nicholas who picked up the phone while I was in the toilet.

"Pris dear, Dr. White called." He said as I stepped out from the bathroom.
"Dr. White?" I asked. It must be the blood test results.
"What is it? Are you not feeling well?" He asked. I shook my head.
"I just needed some confirmation." I replied, touching my stomach. He nodded.

"I'll accompany you there?" He asked.
"Erm..." I hesitated.
"No buts. I'm coming." He insisted. I nodded.

We went down to his office before dinner.
"Come on in, have a seat." Dr White said, looking at a white file intently without looking up. He sat down and swirl his chair around.
"Oh, good evening Your Highness." Dr. White said coolly. I smiled.
"Good evening, Sir." Nicholas replied.
"I am honoured." Dr. White replied.

He took out another file from his IN tray. He look at the closed folder, then to Prince Nicholas, then to me.
"Pris, I need to do an ultra-scan for you first." He said and motioned me to get to the machine.
He squeezed some gel onto my stomach skin. Then he maneuvered the scanner over the area.

Dr. White keep looking at the screen while shifting the scanner.
"Is there something wrong with the baby?" Nicholas asked.
Dr White kept quiet.
Nicholas held my hand while looking at the screen.

After a while, Dr. White lifted the scanner and took a tissue to clean my stomach.
"Doctor?" Nicholas asked, sensing something the Doctor is keeping mum about.

"I'm sorry to you both." He sighed Then he took down his spectacles and looked at my direction.
"Pris, you are not pregnant." He said.
"You have a case of false pregnancy." He added.
"It's alright, you both are young, still can try again." He added.


False pregnant?

I looked at Nicholas. Disappointment's written all over his face.
I too felt disappointed. Nicholas made a move and comforted me.
"It's okie, my dear." He said as he held me close. I nodded.

I went straight back to my room. I wasn't in the mood to eat anything.
Nicholas wanted to follow me in.
"Nic, I.. Can I just have some time alone, please?" I asked.
This time he complied without any buts.

I climbed into my bed and I cried.


Many thoughts raced through my mind about it.
'Then again, it is good isn't it?'
'We can slowly take our time, isn't it?'

Although I tried very much to comfort and convince myself, deep down I knew I was ready to have this baby.
I didn't know how long I have cried and fell asleep after that, but I knew someone actually came into my room and pulling up the covers and tucking me in.


--------------


'The news from Dr White this evening did hit her hard. I wondered how she is feeling now.'

In the guest room, Nicholas paced up and down, occasional pausing to wonder about Dr. White's diagnostics.

'It was just an hour ago when Priscilla has locked herself in her room and refused to come out. And I don't know what is going on in that room right now.' I thought.


I went down to Dr. White's office. I need to know the exact diagnostics.
"Your Highness." Dr. White greeted.
"I want to know everything." I said firmly.


Dr. White studied me for awhile.
"Sit down." He said calmly.


For an hour, he explained the blood test and the symptoms and cause of a case of false pregnancy.
"She is stress." He mentioned.
"Frankly speaking, you are the heir to the French throne and she is the future queen to -- to produce heirs for your royal household. Any women in her position will feel stress." Dr. White spoke bluntly.
Those words made something in me stirred.

Why didn't I thought of that in the first place?
Her face expression when I proposed. Her eyes showed uncertainty. She said she couldn't commit.
Everything adds up.
I slapped my forehead.
I was too impatient.


Looking out to the ocean, the view from the guest room is beautiful.
"Your Highness, may I be of service?" Ben greeted.
"Oh yes, Ben, please, can you open Priscilla's bedroom door. I would like to check on her." I said.
Ben bowed and showed the way.


Once the door opened, she was fast asleep in bed, still in the clothes she wore earlier.
Her face has dried up paths of tears flowing down her cheeks.
I gently wiped her tears and placed a kiss on her forehead, and gently pull the covers and tuck her in.


I still couldn't comprehend her sometimes, but I know we both had a connection somehow. We both like each other's accompany, we share some same hobbies and we pretty much mirror each other in certain ways.
Everything seems so, so natural.


A sigh escaped my breath as I exit her bedroom.